Antibiotic Resistance Awareness among Undergraduate Students in Quito, Ecuador

Abstract

The inappropriate use of antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance, which reduces their efficacy. The education of undergraduates is likely to influence their practices. Assessing awareness is critical in the general effort to confront the spread of antibiotic resistance. This cross-sectional investigation was carried out using the questionnaire “Antibiotic resistance: Multi-country public awareness” developed by the World Health Organization. Students from different backgrounds at the Central University participated in the study (n = 733). The survey comprised five sections: demographics, knowledge, usage, sources of information, and attitudes. The rate of correct answers was 64.88%; differences were detected between programs of study (p < 0.001); effect size analysis showed that these differences cannot be considered large. Individuals from applied sciences scored higher than their counterparts from social studies. Mostly, interviewees were knowledgeable about usage, but mistakenly associated antibiotics with conditions such as cold/flu or viral illnesses; also, they associated antibiotic resistance with the patient and not with bacteria. Despite these misconceptions, positive attitudes were registered overall, and students generally adhered to common practices. They cited doctors/nurses and teachers as sources of information. As a consequence, it is recommended to develop courses that address deficient knowledge regarding antibiotic resistance, especially for individuals affiliated to social disciplines.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Antibiotic Use and Resistance: A Cross-Sectional Study among Students in Israel

“…With respect to the familiarity with the four terms related to antibiotic resistance, the average level of knowledge was relatively low (2.52/4). This is consistent with previous research [ 21 , 39 ]. Students from developed countries, including Australia, France, Italy, and other European countries, have also acknowledged their need to learn more about antibiotic resistance [ 33 , 37 , 40 , 41 ].…”

“…A professional translator translated the anonymous, closed, self-completed WHO questionnaire, “Antibiotic Resistance: Multi-country public awareness survey” [ 24 ] from English into Hebrew. This questionnaire is used among a variety of groups, including student populations, and it has been translated into different languages, e.g., [ 21 , 22 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. After the questionnaire was translated into Hebrew, it was administered to five students who did not attend the college to ensure that the questions were comprehensible.…”

“…The researchers assumed that the sick students thought the antibiotics would expedite their recovery and enable them to return to their studies more quickly. In a separate study of 733 students in Ecuador [ 21 ], differences in attitudes about antibiotic use between disciplines were identified, with students from the basic sciences receiving a higher knowledge score than their peers from the social sciences. Most interviewees were knowledgeable about the use of antibiotics but mistakenly associated the patient as the source of antibiotic resistance and not the bacteria.…”

Knowledge of Antibiotic Use and Resistance Among Medical Students in Saudi Arabia

“…This echoes the results of a previous study, which showed that 92.91% of students in the healthcare sector possess a good level of knowledge regarding AMR. 9 , 34 However, another study showed that medicine (66%) and pharmacy (95%) students had a better understanding of antibiotic resistance than nursing and other health science students. 35 A study of 425 medical students at the University of California showed that a programme focused on stewardship, which involved self-paced learning and a collaborative workshop, had an impact on the knowledge and attitudes of preclinical medical students, prompting them to work together for effective antimicrobial stewardship.…”

“…These curricula should primarily focus on medicine, microbial virulence, mechanisms of resistance, and responsible antibiotic usage. 34 , 41 …”